Chap. VIII.] 
CROWS. 
253 
of mud on each side of the perch. Grass is apparently 
the most convenient material for the purposes of the 
Weaver-bird when constructing its nest, but other sub- 
stances are often substituted, and some nests which I 
brought from Ceylon proved to be formed with deli- 
cate strips from the fronds of the dwarf date-palm, 
Phoenix paludosa, which happened to grow near the 
breeding place. 
Amongst the birds of this order, one which, as far as 
I know, is peculiar to the island is Layard's Mountain- 
jay (Cissa puella, Blyth and Layard), is distinguished 
not less by the beautiful blue colour which enlivens its 
plumage, than by the elegance of its form and the grace 
of its attitudes. It frequents the hill country, and is 
found about the mountain streams at Neuera-ellia, and 
elsewhere. 1 
Grows. — Of all the Ceylon birds of this order the 
most familiar and notorious are the small glossy crows, 
whose shining black plumage shot with blue has sug- 
gested the title of Corvus splendens. 2 They frequent 
the towns in companies, and domesticate themselves in 
the close vicinity of every house ; and it may possibly 
serve to account for the familiarity and audacity which 
they exhibit in their intercourse with men, that the 
Dutch during their sovereignty in Ceylon, enforced 
severe penalties against any one killing a crow, under 
the belief that they were instrumental in extending the 
1 The engraving above is taken seen in the towns, it lives chiefly 
by permission of Mr. Grould from in the open country, and may be 
one of his drawings for his Birds constantly observed wherever there 
of India. are buffaloes, perched on their 
2 There is another species, the backs and engaged, in company 
C. cuhninatus, so called from the with the small Minah (Acridotheres 
convexity of its bill ; but though' tristis), in freeing them from ticks. 
